WO2005065543A1

WO2005065543A1 - Device for continuously sensing the body temperature of a mammal

Info

Publication number: WO2005065543A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2004/000149
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martha Johanna Swart
Original assignee: Martha Johanna Swart
Priority date: 2004-01-09
Filing date: 2004-12-02
Publication date: 2005-07-21
Also published as: ZA200400156B

Abstract

A device (10) for continuously sensing and communicating the body temperature of a child (12) includes an attachment means in the form of a strap (14) for releasably attaching the device (10) to an upper arm (16) of the child (12) a temperature sensor (18) in the form of an elongate strip manufactured from metal located in or on the strap (14) and which is electronically connected to a communication means in the form of an LCD screen (20) for displaying the sensed temperature to a user (not shown).

Description

DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUSLY SENSING THE BODY TEMPERATURE OF A MAMMAL

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device for continuously sensing the body temperature of a mammal and, more particularly, that of a human.

Background to the Invention

Thermometers for measuring the body temperature of a mammal are well known in the art. A conventional thermometer including a glass tube containing a fluid that expands when heat is applied to a heat conductive tip of the thermometer can be placed into the mouth, armpit or anus of a mammal of which the body temperature is to be measured.

Use of such a thermometer is time consuming as it must be left in place for approximately three minutes in order to measure the temperature accurately. This can become especially difficult if one is trying to measure the temperature of a young child that is reluctant to hold still long enough for an accurate measurement to be taken.

One way of overcoming this problem are thermometers having a temperature sensitive tip that is inserted into the ear of the mammal of which the temperature is to be taken for a couple of seconds. The temperature reading is typically displayed digitally and due to the thermometer being capable of measuring the temperature in a very short time, these thermometers are more convenient to use than conventional thermometers.

However, neither of the abovementioned thermometers are suitable for measuring the body temperature of a mammal continuously. In the case of a child or patient that is ill, the subject must be disturbed in order to take a temperature measurement which can be stressful both for the child/ patient and the person taking the measurement. In addition, the time taken for nursing staff to regularly measure and record the body temperature of hospitalized patients is very long.

Another problem associated with conventional thermometers as described above is that since the body temperature measurements are taken at specific intervals, a body temperature change that occurs between intervals can go undetected with often fatal results, especially in the case of children.

The inventor therefore believes that a need exists for a device that is capable of continuously sensing the body temperature of a mammal without disturbing same whilst being convenient to use.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention there is provided a device for continuously sensing and communicating the body temperature of a mammal, the device including:- an attachment means for releasably attaching the device to a body part of the mammal; and a temperature sensor located in or on the attachment means and which sensor is in communication with a communication means for communicating the sensed temperature to a user.

The temperature sensor may be electronically connected to the communication means.

The communication means may be in the form of a display means that may form an integral part with the attachment means and may be in the form of an LCD screen. The display means may continuously display the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

In an alternative embodiment, the communication means may be in the form of data capturing device configured to receive a signal communicating the sensed temperature from the sensor. The communication means may be located remotely the temperature sensor.

The data capturing device may be in the form of a computer having a screen on which the sensed temperature may be displayed. The computer may be used to store the sensed temperature so that a body temperature profile of the mammal of which the temperature is being sensed can be produced. A plurality of devices may be in electronic communication with the data capturing device so that the body temperatures of a plurality of mammals may be monitored simultaneously.

The device may include an alarm that may be activated when the sensed temperature rises or falls above or below a predetermined temperature. The alarm may be in the form of an audible alarm or in the form of a visually perceptible signal such as a blinking light. The alarm may be located remote the temperature sensor to enable remote monitoring of the body temperature of a mammal.

In the case of an audible alarm, the device may be provided with a manual deactivation button that must be depressed by a user for a predetermined amount of time in order to stop the alarm signal. Should the alarm be activated by a rise or fall in the sensed temperature and the deactivation button not be depressed, the alarm will not automatically deactivate, thus ensuring that the mammal wearing the device is attended to.

The temperature at which the alarm is activated may be adjustable. The device is typically used to indicate when the sensed body temperature of a mammal rises above a predetermined temperature, for example, 38° Celsius.

The device may be provided with a power source such as, for example, a battery to provide the temperature sensor and the display means with power.

The attachment means may be in the form of a strap that is beatable around the body part of the mammal. The length of the strap may be adjustable to ensure a snug yet not tight fit around the body part. The length of the strap may be adjustable by means of, for example, a Velcro^® strip.

The strap may be manufactured from any suitable natural or synthetic fabric or rubber.

The temperature sensor may be attached to the strap or it may be included in the material of the strap in a manner that permits accurate temperature sensing.

The temperature sensor may be in the form of an elongate strip manufactured from metal.

The mammal of which the temperature is to be measure may be selected from the group including: a human, a dog, a cat, a horse, a cow, and the like. The device is typically used to continuously measure the body temperature of children and infants.

The device may be configured to be aesthetically pleasing to children. For example, the attachment means may be brightly colored.

In addition, the display means may be included in an ornament located on the attachment means. The ornament may be in the form of a flower, animal, cartoon character, and the like. The ornament may be manufactured from a suitable synthetic plastic material or a rubber.

When used to measure the body temperature of a human, the device may be located around an upper portion of an arm of the human, child or infant so that the temperature sensor is located in the armpit of the human and the display means is located on the human's shoulder.

The device may however be located on any suitable body part where accurate body temperature sensing is possible.

In use, care must be taken that the temperature sensor is located snugly against the skin of the mammal at the location where the body temperature is to be sensed and the attachment means may be adjusted accordingly so that the sensor does not become displaced due to movement of the mammal.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will now be described by way of the following non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:- Figure 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention attached to the upper arm of a child; and

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention attached to the upper arm of a child.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a device for continuously sensing and communicating the body temperature of a mammal in accordance with the present invention. In the embodiments shown, the mammal is a child 12.

Referring to Figure 1 , there is shown a device 10 for continuously sensing and communicating the body temperature of a child 12 includes an attachment means in the form of a strap 14 for releasably attaching the device 10 to an upper arm 16 of the child 12 a temperature sensor 18 in the form of an elongate strip manufactured from metal located in or on the strap 14 and which is electronically connected to a communication means in the form of an LCD screen 20 for displaying the sensed temperature to a user (not shown).

The display means 20 continuously displays the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 18. The device 10 includes an audible alarm (not shown) that is activated when the sensed temperature rises or falls above or below a predetermined temperature. A manual deactivation button is included in the alarm, which button must be depressed by a user for a predetermined amount of time in order to stop the alarm signal. Should the alarm be activated by a rise or fall in the sensed temperature and the deactivation button not be depressed, the alarm will not automatically deactivate, thus ensuring that the child 12 wearing the device 10 is attended to.

In Figure 2, the sensed temperature is transmitted to a remotely located data capturing device in the form of a computer 22 configured to receive a signal 24 communicating the sensed temperature from the sensor 18.

The computer 22 includes a screen 26 on which the sensed temperature can be displayed continuously. The computer 22 can in addition be used to store the sensed temperature so that a body temperature profile of the child 12 can be produced. Particularly in hospitals, a plurality of devices 10 can be in electronic communication with the computer 22 so that the body temperatures of a plurality of children or patients can be monitored simultaneously.

In Figure 3, an audible alarm is included in a remotely located receiver 28 that can be placed in the bedroom of the child's 12 parents (not shown) at night thus alerting the parents when the child's 12 body temperature rises or falls above or below a predetermined value whilst not necessitating the parents to wake up periodically to measure the child's 12 temperature.

In all three of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3, the temperature at which the alarm is activated is adjustable. So, for example, the alarm can be set to be activated should the body temperature of the child 12 rise above 38° Celsius.

The device 10 is a power source such as in the form of a battery (not shown) to provide the temperature sensor 18 and the LCD screen 20 with power. The length of the strap 14 is adjustable to ensure a snug yet not tight fit around the upper arm 16 of the child 12. The length of the strap 14 is adjustable by means of a hook-and-loop arrangement such as, for example, a Velcro^® strip 30. The strap 14 is manufactured from a suitable rubber.

In the embodiments shown, the temperature sensor 18 is included in the material of the strap 14 in a manner that permits accurate temperature sensing.

The device 10 is configured to be aesthetically pleasing to children. So, for example, the strap can be brightly colored and the LCD screen can be included in an ornament 32 located on the strap 14 as shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the device 10 is located around an upper portion of an arm 16 of the child 12 so that the temperature sensor is located in the armpit 34 of the child 12 and the ornament 32 with the LCD screen 20 is located on the shoulder of the child 12.

It is to be appreciated, that the invention is not limited to any specific embodiment or configuration as hereinbefore generally described or illustrated.

Claims

1. A device for continuously sensing and communicating the body temperature of a mammal, the device including:- an attachment means for releasably attaching the device to a body part of the mammal; and a temperature sensor located in or on the attachment means and which sensor is in communication with a communication means for communicating the sensed temperature to a user.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the communication means is in the form of a display means that forms an integral part with the attachment means.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the display means is an LCD screen.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the display means continuously displays the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the communication means is in the form of data capturing device configured to receive a signal communicating the sensed temperature from the sensor.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the data capturing device is located remote the temperature sensor.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the data capturing device is a computer having a screen on which the sensed temperature is displayed.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims claim 5 to 7, wherein the data capturing device is used to store the sensed temperature so that a body temperature profile of the mammal of which the temperature is being sensed can be produced.

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims claim 5 to 8, wherein a plurality of devices are in electronic communication with the data capturing device so that the body temperatures of a plurality of mammals are monitored simultaneously.

10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device includes an alarm that is activated when the sensed temperature rises or falls above or below a predetermined temperature.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the alarm is an audible alarm.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the device is provided with a manual deactivation button that must be depressed by a user for a predetermined amount of time in order to stop the alarm signal.

13. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the alarm is a visually perceptible signal.

14. A device as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the alarm is located in a receiver remote the device to enable remote monitoring of the body temperature of a mammal.

15. A device as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the temperature at which the alarm is activated is adjustable.

16. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment means is in the form of a strap that is locatable around the body part of the mammal.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the length of the strap is adjustable to ensure a snug yet not tight fit around the body part.

18. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the temperature sensor is attached to the attachment means.

19. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the temperature sensor forms an integral part of the attachment means in a manner that permits accurate temperature sensing.

20. A device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the temperature sensor is in the form of an elongate strip manufactured from metal.

21. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mammal of which the temperature is to be measure is selected from the group including: a human, a dog, a cat, a horse, a cow, and the like.

22. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is configured to be aesthetically pleasing to children.

23. A device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the display means is included in an ornament located on the attachment means.

24. A device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the ornament is in the form of a flower, animal, cartoon character, or the like.

25. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, when used to measure the body temperature of a human, the device is located around an upper portion of an arm of the human so that the temperature sensor is located in the armpit of the human and the communication means is located on the shoulder of the human.

26. A device according to the invention, as hereinbefore generally described.

27. A device as specifically described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. A device including any new and inventive integer or combination of integers, substantially as herein described.